Fans were all duped by Johnny Gaudreau and company into thinking the superstar was leaving behind the Calgary Flames for the red and black of the New Jersey Devils. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Gaudreau signed with Metropolitan Division rival, and dark horse in the free agency market, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The arm chair general managers on social media were quick to voice disappointment. Part of it is completely understandable. There was a good four hour period where New Jersey was the reported favorite for his services. Yet, when Gaudreau chose Ohio over the Garden State, one of the most interesting complaints came out. That being, “why would he ever want to play in Newark, New Jersey!”
We will fully admit that Newark isn’t the upper east side of Manhattan, to put it lightly. Last time we checked, they are the Nee Jersey Devils, not the Newark Devils. Here’s a little why the specific location of the team’s home arena likely didn’t play a factory.
Players Don’t Live there
Ever since the team moved to the Prudential Center in 2007, we have yet to hear of a player who made Newark, New Jersey his home. Younger players tend to live in the cities that are close enough to New York without crossing that state border.
For example, back in the 2018 season Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Pavel Zacha and Blake Coleman all lived in the same Jersey City apartment building. Former, but recent, Devils’ players Adam Henrique, Andy Greene and Taylor Hall lived in Hoboken.
Those were the young players, who were also single and ready to mingle. The players who have settled down with families moved to New Jersey’s swankier suburbs. Cory Schneider had a house in Short Hills. Traves Zajac lived in Milburn. A certain former Devils who decided to return to Russia built a $16,000,000 mansion in Alpine, New Jersey. Alpine repeatedly ranks as one of America’s richest zip codes.
What If They Played At the Meadowlands
This wasn’t the first time we’ve heard complaints about the team being in Newark. Sometimes, those comments are followed up with, “they should have stayed in the Meadowlands, it was much nicer!” Was it really, though?
Look, the Meadowlands was brilliant. The team had its greatest success there and the parking lot parades were amazing. Not to mention, the tailgates were always a great time. Unfortunately, the Continental Airlines Arena got outdated and suffered from some poor design flaws. The success the team had there was fantastic, and the way it felt fans took ownership of the building, but an upgrade was needed. Don’t forget the rail tunnel was an over glorified drain pipe.
Prudential Center is a much nicer and more modern arena. Sure, the arena around it isn’t Beverly Hills, but look at the area around the Meadowlands. The Prudential Center is surrounded by Newark, which is a major urban area in the tri-state. The Meadowlands was surrounded by swamps, NFL teams that thought they were in a different state, and probably had a few mobsters buried under there as well. The Meadowlands doesn’t necessarily win by comparison.
Other ‘Bad’ Areas Attract Good Players
You ever drive through the Bronx? Most of the Bronx looks like Newark. Put two pictures side by side and most might not be able to tell the difference. There’s this little ballpark on 161st street in the Bronx called Yankee Stadium you might have heard of it. No matter what can be said about the Bronx, the Yankees have no problem attracting big name free agents and players to the play in their ballpark that shares the same community.
Why is that? Because the Yankees win. Winning attracts people more than luxury apartments down the street or penthouse in buildings with doormen and maid service. Plus, the Bronx is close to glitzy Manhattan, where most of the athletes making the big bucks live. It might be easier to get from Newark to Manhattan than the Bronx to Manhattan on a busy day, so let’s give that point to the Devils.
Some Yankees even lived in the New Jersey suburbs. C.C. Sabathia makes his home In Alpine, right by our old Russian friend’s old stomping crowds. Even in the old days, New York athletes lived in the jersey suburbs. Yogi Berra famously built his home in Montclair and Phil Rizzuto lived in West Orange.
Winning teams attract big name players. New Jersey hasn’t won a lot in a while. Then again, neither have the Columbus blue Jackets. We’re still a little confused on that one.
Gaudreau had His Own Reasons
So why did Gaudreau choose the red and blue over the black and red? The fact the arena is located in Newark most likely wasn’t a reason. The main reason was probably that the arena wasn’t located in Philadelphia. We all know the Philadelphia Flyers were his top choice. Whether the Devils played in New York’s urban little brother or next to a football stadium where Jimmy Hoffa was buried wouldn’t have changed that.